A group of Lund University students are behind a ’universal remote control’ called Unified Remote, an app that enables you to control your computer with your smart phone. After millions of downloads, they’re now looking at breaking into the the gaming world - by turning your phone into a joystick.

Two Swedish students who say they were ”too lazy to get off the couch” to manage their computers came up with the idea for Unified Remote in 2010. At the time, there weren’t many similar apps.

”I think part of the secret to our success is that we were so early. We’ve been able to stay one step ahead by coming up with new developments and features”, says Jakob Berglund, a computer science student at Lund University who co-founded Unified Remote together with Philip Bergkvist.

The team will soon release a gaming version that will allow gamers to use their smartphone as a game controller.

Another step will be to develop an even more user-friendly interface. As part of their Master’s thesis, Jakob Berglund and Filip Lindqvist, another Lund University computer science student who has joined the team recently, will study how customers actually use the app, and try to tweak the product to meet their needs.

”If you always switch on a streaming programme when you come home at a certain time, maybe the app should suggest it for you, therefore cutting out several steps for the user”, explains Jakob.

The long-term goal, however, is to be able to control everything in your home using the app.

”We’re looking into smart home systems, smart TVs; all of these different devices that are becoming connected. We have one simple way of controlling all of it”, concludes Philip Bergkvist.